Traverse-ring



(No Model.)

J. W. LESLIE. TRAVERSE RING. No. 537,837. v Patented A 23, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

JAMES W. LESLIE, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOULD MERSEREAU COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

TRAVERSE-RING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,837, dated April 23, 1895. Application filed August 27, 1894. Serial No. 521,376- (No model.)

Be it known that I, J AMES' WILLIAM LESLIE, of Melrose, county of Middlesex, State of Mas-- sachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Traverse-Rings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to traverse rings of the class provided with a plurality of rollers, usually two in number, arranged with their axes in the same or substantially the same vertical plane and adapted to roll along the upper surface of a curtain pole,0r other fixture, to enable the ring to be moved with greater ease than would be possible without said rollers. Two rollers arranged as de: scribed are necessary in order to prevent lateral or edgewise vibration of the ring upon its pole or fixture, and to hold the ring always central with relation to the said pole or fixture. In rings having a plurality of rollers arranged with their axes in the same vertical plane, as heretofore constructed, said axes have been rigidly held to the curtain ring or support at an angle with each other to more nearly conform to the curved upper surface of the pole or fixture upon which the rollers must run, and so long as the ring or support is maintained in a truly vertical position the rollers will be in proper alignment with the pole and will run easily thereupon. When, however, for any reason, as when drawing a curtain to one side, the ringis turned into an angular or oblique position with relation to the pole, the plane of the angularly arranged axes of the rollers will be correspondingly changed into oblique position, so that the said axes will no longer be at right angles to the line of travel of the ring, as is necessary to enable the rollers to roll without slipping, but the said axes will stand obliquely to the direction of travel of the ring and their rollers will, therefore, fail to perform their proper function of enabling the ring to move easily, said rollers in such cases acting to retard the travel of the ring to a greater extent than would the ring be retarded were the rollers omitted. To obviate this difficulty I have conceived the idea of mounting the rollers upon a carrier, pivotally, or otherwise, freely connected to the ring or curtain support, so that the said roller carrier is free to remain always in its proper aligned position regardless of the position into which the ring or curtain support is turned, for by such a construction said rollers are enabled to always fulfill their proper function.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a traverse ring embodying one form of my invention, in position upon a pole and turned relatively to the roller-carrier to illustrate the operation of the invention. Fig. 2 shows the pole or supporting fixture in section, with the ring on an enlarged scale in position upon it. Fig. 3 illustrates one manner of retaining the roller in position upon the carrier; Fig. 4t,'a detail to be referred to; n'd Fig. 5 a view illustrating a modification of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, in the embodiment of my invention there shown, A, is the curtain support, shown as ring-like in form, and provided with a usual eye a, to which the curtain may be attached, it being understood, however, that my invention is not restricted to this or any other particular form of curtain support.

B represents a roller carrier, shown as of wire and bent into semi-circular form, with its ends I) turned outwardly to constitutejournals which are inserted in suitable holes in the curtain support made by puncturing the latter, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, said journals being preferably turned slightly up at their ends to prevent ready withdrawal of the same from their bearings or holes in the curtain-support, while the rings are in use.

The rollers are represented at c, c, the same being journaled upon the carrier B, with their axes therefor in the same vertical plane and shown as retained in place thereon by suitable retaining shoulders c, which may be formed integral with the wire or independent thereof, as may be found most convenient.

In the particular instance of my invention here shown, the said shoulders are formed by split rings, one of which is shown separately in Fig. 4, and which are sprung into grooves c in the carrier, though my invention is not limited to the retention of the rollers in position against longitudinal or axial movement by the particular means here shown.

In order to maintain the carrier B as close as possible to the inner circumference of the ring, I have herein formed in the latter two recesses or pockets a to receive the rollers.

B represents a pole or fixture upon which my improved ring is placed.

The carrier B being loosely, herein pivotally, connected with the curtain support A, is free to always assume a proper aligned position, herein at right angles to the axis of the pole or fixture, in order that its rollers may travel with their axes always in parallelism to or alignment with the axis of the pole whatever be the angular position the curtain-support or ring is turned by movement of the curtain, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 the curtain support A is shown as of wire and semi-circular in shape, it having its ends loosely connected in suitable manner to the ends of the semi-circular carrier B also of wire and carrying the rollers c which travel upon the pole or fixture.

In the ring Fig. 5, the curtain support is free to assume a proper aligned position as in Fig. 1.

The modification Fig. 5 serves as an illustration of the fact that my invention is susceptible of various modifications, all embodying the one essential element of invention, viz:the mounting of the roller or rollers in such a manner that they are free to retain their proper aligned position upon the pole or fixture whenever the ring or curtain-support is turned into an abnormal position, such as would ordinarily throw the said roller or rollers out of proper aligned position.

Having described my invention, and without limiting myself as to details, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a curtain supporting ring, of a roller-carrier pivoted in the said ring and provided with rollers, the said rollercarrier and its rollers serving to support the ring upon a pole and allowing said ring to swing upon said carrier free of said pole,substantially as described. 7

2. The combination with a curtain supporting ring, provided with a series of recesses or pockets a in its inner surface, of a roller-carrier pivoted in the said ring and provided with rollers entering said recesses, the said roller-carrier and its rollers serving to support the ring upon a pole and allowing said ring to swing upon said carrier free of said pole, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. JAMES W. LESLIE.

\Vitnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, AUGUSTA E. DEAN. 

